Shimanami Kaido (Hiroshima)しまなみ海道

An amazing architectural wonder that links six islands, with a path just for cycling

Shimanami Kaido is a bridge system and toll road that lands on six islands in the Seto Inland Sea, linking them to the main island of Honshu. There are roads for automobiles, cycling, and even walking. This is an especially fun traverse for cyclists.

Quick Facts

The bridge stops off at Mukaishima, Innoshima, Ikuchijima, Omishima, Hakatajima, and Oshima islands

Tatara Ohashi is the longest askew-arched bridge in the world

How to Get There

You can enter from either the Ehime or Onomichi intersections.

How the bridge came to be

The expressway, which is 60 kilometers in length, offers spectacular views of the surrounding sea and the coastlines of the islands it crosses over. There are also observation decks and observation points to marvel over at the bridge, including the Hanaguri Seto observation platform on Omishima and Mt. Kiro on Oshima.

Manmade vs. natural beauty

Whether you are attracted by the engineering prowess or the natural beauty of the surroundings, the Shimanami Kaido is one of the best ways to travel through the area.